Saturday, December 03, 2016

Helio's Favorite Choke from Top Side

My good friends are hosting a two week self defense/jiu jitsu/mobility training/strength and conditioning camp being taught by fifth degree black belt Steve Maxwell (Relson Gracie's first black belt). I am still having some problems with my neck (one year post op) plus I don't have $1,200 for the advanced jiu jitsu camp--which lasts six days and goes for four hours straight each day. It's on Folly Beach--the so-called "Edge of America." It's an eclectic little beach town here in the heart of the low country. That said, I was lingering on the fringes during the first week--which was a fundamentals camp. I loaned them some mats and kettle bells, so I think I was tolerated on the margins despite being a free rider. The advanced camp starts tomorrow. Perhaps next year I can formally participate.

For now, I wanted to share one of the nuggets of wisdom I gleaned watching from the side lines. In short, according to Maxwell, the guillotine choke was Helio's favorite choke from top side control (or even top half guard). Maxwell trained with Helio and all of his sons. So, I take his word for it. He claims to have been choked many times with the choke by Helio himself. I watched several instructionals online and the versions that come closest to what Steve showed are shown by Rafael Mendes and Marcelo Garcia, respectively. I threw in a video by Chris Brennan that shows his ten finger variation just for good measure.

p.s. One extra detail Maxwell showed is that in the gi, you can reach around your O's head and then get a thumb in grip on your O's gi--which makes the loop even tighter. Also, Maxwell stepped more prominently over his O and turned his hips towards the ground. Otherwise, these versions below are in the same spirit. Try them out. On the flip side, protect your neck!